Off-road

It hasn’t been long at all since VW kicked off production on its Alltrack, making a wagon with the prowess and utility of an SUV, while being more car-like to drive. Mercedes-Benz has now stepped into that same category with a new ride for folks that like the idea of a more capable wagon in a more luxurious package. The new Mercedes E-Class All Terrain is ready to take on adventure with its multi-chamber air suspension system and 4Matic four-wheel drive systems.

Yesterday I mentioned that the 2017 Chevy Colorado would be getting a new V6 engine and 8-speed transmission. Unsurprisingly, its GMC Canyon twin will be getting the same powertrain for 2017. Along with the new V6 and 8-speed auto, the Canyon is also getting a new Denali version and an off-road flavored All Terrain X version. The Denali is all about luxury with big 20″ aluminum wheels and lots of chrome accents.

We live in an era where even the smallest crossovers and grocery getter SUVs are touted as being capable of driving on rugged terrain. But it takes more than an all-wheel drivetrain to truly be off-road capable.

I happened to be in Nevada already, so it was a pleasant surprise when I found out it was the same weekend that the Polaris RZR Mint 400 Presented by BFGoodrich Tires off-road race (aka “The Mint 400“) was going on.

Who knew the world was waiting for a faster, posher SUV? Apparently the folks at Bentley, because the Bentley Bentayga, the new apex predator of the SUV heap, sold out its first lineup year before the vehicle ever went into production.

Many of us are pretty excited about the new 2017 Ford Raptor that will be on sale by the end of the year. It’ll have a turbocharged engine making around 450 horsepower. It’s a truck you could drive off the lot and then immediately take on the Baja 1000.

When I first heard that Land Rover was going to make a drop-top Evoque, I thought it sounded like a weird idea. After all, when Nissan tried it with the Murano, it was a complete fail.

I am a huge Ariel Atom fan. Those little cars are far from cheap, despite the minimalist nature of them, but they can be incredibly fast with the proper driver behind the wheel. I want one pretty badly.

We still have to wait about a year before we can get behind the wheel of the rugged new aluminum-bodied F-150 Raptor. But Ford is already knee and waist-deep in mud testing out prototypes of their flagship performance truck.

Toyota has been making some of the most durable and off-road worthy pickup trucks for as long as I can remember. The truck I think is at the sweet spot of their product line is the Tacoma.

I guess there are some super wealthy folks out there that get upset stomachs at the thought of being seen in a Range Rover, but need something that can get them up their gravel drives, to the ski lodge, or survive the snow as they schlep down to eat brunch in Aspen.

I have always had a soft spot for Jeeps since my dad owned one way back in the day and took me off-roading in it. The off-road capabilities of the classic 4x4s are impressive. I have wondered since the new Renegade came onto the market if it was fit for off-roading or not.

Chevrolet has brought back its mid-size truck called the Colorado for 2015, and has a rugged new edition of that truck for off-road enthusiasts to check out. The new version is called the Colorado Z71 Trail Boss.

If you ever had any doubt that Range Rovers could really handle extreme terrain, this video should convince you. This footage from a few years back shows both a Range Rover Sport and a Land Rover Discovery tackling the sort of extremely steep hill that give drivers white knuckles (and brown shorts) when behind the wheel.

Ariel Motor Company is well known for their ultra-lightweight, minimalist racers, and now the company is looking to take their track cars off road with the Ariel Nomad. The open-body, dune buggy-like off road racer will make its official debut at the 2015 Autosport International Show in January.